an illustrated life

“That does seem like you’d be going to an awful lot more trouble.”

"Do you not want my help?"

“And some part of that made think, ‘Ah yes, let’s approach a woman sitting on her own, clearly enjoying solitude and nature.’” She looked back up at her new company. “Is that accurate?”

"If you wanted solitude you should have gone somewhere I couldn't find you,"

"Why not? You're not terrible at it and I'm sure you'd never be in want of a willing partner,"

"And you'd be surprised about the partners thing. I think most people here assume I'd have two left feet."

"Well speaking as one who's been around far longer than you, I think you'd be surprised how many people are willing to overlook two left feet for a pretty face. Really you have no excuse," she said, finishing it off with a rather admonishing look. "So, what's your type? Let's get your next partner lined up so the second our dance is over you can go and ask them,"

"And is this a normal topic of conversation for you while dancing?"

Adonis sighed in that pinched sort of way he tended to, but he couldn't quite manage any heat in his expression. "You're still trying to change the topic back, aren't you?"

"I wouldn't have to if you'd stop trying to change it forward,"

"And is this a normal topic of conversation for you while dancing?"

"Oh, come on, Pippa. Humor me," he insisted, spinning them faster with a chuckle.

She couldn't help but chuckle as he sped up their spin. "Oh very well, but only because it's you,"

"And is this a normal topic of conversation for you while dancing?"

"Should it not be normal?" Lavinia questioned, glancing back over her shoulder to look at Adonis as she twirled Pippa. "He's mad for her, I'm certain."

"Just wondering if I should be worried about you talking about me with all your dance partners," she replied before looking to the subject of their conversation. "He certainly hasn't been this riled up by someone in a long time. Maybe ever,"

"And is this a normal topic of conversation for you while dancing?"

"Now you're just avoiding the question, Pip."

"I've no idea what you're talking about,"

"And is this a normal topic of conversation for you while dancing?"

"Not exactly, but then again I don't dance very much."

"Why not? You're not terrible at it and I'm sure you'd never be in want of a willing partner,"

"And is this a normal topic of conversation for you while dancing?"

"I'd argue that any conversation you can have normally is also a normal conversation to have while dancing."

"I'd argue otherwise. I can think of a great many conversations I wouldn't have whilst dancing,"

"And is this a normal topic of conversation for you while dancing?"

"Well... yes," Theo replied sheepishly. "Is it dreadfully boring?"

"It wouldn't be if I hadn't had variations of the same conversation with several dance partners already this evening," She said, not unkindly. "You should talk about something less generic. Like yourself. That's definitely not a local accent, where are you from?"